Process of making container closures



June 21, 1938 r w. L. MORGAN 2,121,042

PROCESS OF MAKING CONTAINER CLOSURES Original Filed oct; 10, 1

I IN VE N TOR M11020! Mow/w A TTORNE K5 war Patented June 21, 1938 PATENT orrree ritocsss or MAKING con'rsnvnn.

crosrmss Willard L. Morgan, Calumet City, 111.,

assignor Sylvania Industrial Corporation, Frederic burg, Va., a corporation of V Original application October 10,

Divided and this application August 1934, Serial No.

12, 1937, Serial No. 158,689

. q 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a method for the manufacture or shrinkable closures for containers and, more particularly, it relates to methods for producing shrinkable caps and bands for containers carrying 'an indicia-bearing label, such as a Government taxstamp, over the closure and to correlated improvements directed to enhancing the appearance oif'the same.

In the packaging at alcoholic liquors such as m wines, whiskeys, etc., in bottles; it is frequently the practice to aflix identifying labels and sometimes necessary to apply a Government tax stamp over or adjacent the mouth of the bottle.- Such stamps are usually in the form of a narrow strip which is adhesively attached to the closure and extends over the top of the closure cap and down the side of the bottle neck. The stamp must be afflxed in such a manner that the whole of the stamp is visible and also that the bottle cannot go be opened and the contents removed without mutilating the stamp. Y

' It isfrequently the practice to place over the bottle closure a shrinkable cap or band such, for example, as one of the so-called viscose" 5 caps. To enhance the appearance or the closure,

the capor band is made or rendered opaque. When such an opaque cap or band is placed over the strip stamp to hold the same in place and to efl'ectively seal the container, the cap or band 30 will obscure a part of the stamp in violation of the Government regulations.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a method of producing improved shrinkable container closures of the cap or band type which as is when the cap container mouth having an adjacent thereto or thereon, the label will be clearly legible-in its entirety. Y

Another object of the invention is the provision of a process for providing shrinkable container closures comprising non-fibrous and colloidal material swelling in water, with marked areas and transparent areas, the marked areas,

45 if desired, comprising opaqued areas which may for-1n backgrounds ,upon which may be applied a novel marking contrasting therewith as regards color and/or transparency and characterized by being resistant to damage by handling abrasion and difficult to alter or remove.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a process of producing a shrinkable container closure comprising a colloidal material a swelling in water with an opaque areaby imor band is properly applied over a i pregnating the closure with an opaque, insoluble,

provided with a transparent section, so that I indicia-bearing label inorganic substance after closure.

F Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete understanding of the 'nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, in which: i

Fig. l is a diagrammatical representation of a simple means for carrying out one modification of the process of the invention;

the formation or the to each of the others, which Fig. 2 is a detailedview er the rollers l3 and i3 ofthe apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of a section of after treatment in the apparatus of Fig. 1 and in accordance with one embodiment of the process of the invention; s

Fig. 4 is a representation of a closure band prepared in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 51s a representation of a bottle closure comprising the closure band of Fig. 4; a

Fig. 6 is a representation of a simple means {or carrying out one step'oif another modification of the process of the invention as applied to bottle caps;

Fig. 7 Ba representation of a bottle closure comprising the closure cap of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a representation of a bottle closure comprising a closure cap prepared according to another embodiment of the invention;

' Fig. 9 is a view in section of a material prepared in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and i I Fig. 10 is a view in section of a material prepared in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Generally speaking, the present method com- .prises treating a colloidal material swelling in water by impregnating it in predetermined areas with an opaque inorganic substanceinsoluble inwater. More particularly, a shrinkable container closure, such as a cap or band, is treated in succession with substances reacting to form within the material an opaque, insoluble, inorganic substance in predetermined areas to form transparent and opaque sections so positioned that when the band or cap has been shrunk into place over the mouth of a container having an indiciaendless tubing bearing label appliedover the stopper or adjacent the mouth, the indicia will be visible through the transparent section of the material.

The present process is particularly applicable to treating caps, bands, tubes or hollow bodies comprising a non-fibrous, colloidal material swelling in water such, for example, as cellulose hydrate, hydroxy-alkyl derivatives of cellulose, gelatine, casein and the like. Such materials when utilized in this process may be transparent or translucent, colorless or slightly tinted, dyed or otherwise colored as may be desired for the purpose for which they are to be employed.

In the preferred practice, the reactants used to produce the opaque, insoluble, inorganic product are applied to the material in solution in a suitable solvent, preferably one having a swelling action on the respective colloidal material to be treated. Suitable solvents for use with and adapted to swell the colloidal material ofthe class described herein comprise water or substances miscible therewith such, for example, as

the lower monohydric. aliphatic alcohols such, for example, as ethyl alcohol; the polyhydric aliphatic alcohols such, for example, as glycerine and dior tri-ethylene glycol; triethanolamine and the like, or mixtures of one or more of these solvents.

In its simplest embodiment, the process requires the use of two reactants which shall be referred to hereinafter as reactants A and B, and the solutions thereof will be designated respectively as solutions A and B. In general, insofar as the chemical nature of the reactants A and B is concerned, it is not material in which order the solutions containing the reactants A and B are applied to the material.

In the now preferred procedu re, the first applied solution, designated solution A, consists of a relatively dilute solution and the second applied solution designated solution B, consists of a relatively concentrated and preferably saturated solution. It has been found desirable, after treating the material with the first solution, to allow sufilcient time for the solvent to diffuse through the surface and carry the reactant into the body of the material. On the other hand. it is desirable to limit the dififusion of the second solution in order to'prevent the bleeding of the deposit beyond predetermined areas. This may be effected by removing the surface liquid resulting from treating the material with the first solution so that the'reaction occurs only with the absorbed liquid, and .thereafter applying the second liquid in predetermined areas. The surplus of the first solution may be removed by the use of suitable blotting felts, doctor blades, squeegee rolls or other suitable means, as by passing a blast of gas or air thereover, and the second solutionmay be applied by the use of a brush, roller or engraved plate or the like. As the second solution diffuses within the areas treated with the first solution, the insoluble, opaque product is produced within the body of the material, as shown in Fig. 8.

Since a dilute solution diffuses into the closure material more rapidly than a concentrated solution, it is advantageous to employ a dilute solution for the first applied reactant so that when the succeeding and more concentrated solution of the second reactant is applied, the opaque inorganic material is formed within the body of the closure material and not only on the surface.

Further, the application of a concentrated solution after the closure has been impregnated with the first inorganic compound forms opaque areas having sharper edges than when a dilute solution Reactant A Reactant B Product Color 1 Sodium di- Lead acetate-- Lead dichro- Orange.

chromate, mate.

2 Sodium ierro- Ferric chlo- Ferric ierro- Blue.

0 anide. ride. cya de.

.3 So ium sili- Cobalt chlo- Cobalt silicate Very light cate. ride. blue.

4 sodlilliln sul- Ferricchlorlde Ferricsulphide Black.

5 sodliluu sul- Lead acetate.. Leadsulphide. Brown.

p l e.

6 Sodium sul- Cadmium Cadmium Light yelphide. chloride. sulphide. low.

7 Sodium sul- Silver sul- Silver sul- Black.

phide. phate. phide.

8 Lead acetate.. sodlilgg sul- Leadaiiiphate. White.

9 Calcium chlo- Sodium car- Calcium car- White.

ride. bonate. bonate.

Referring now to Fig. 1, band may be produced of a material of the class described such, for example, as endless tubing of cellulose hydrate, by passing the tubing l0 through a. solution A contained in a suitable vat II, the solution consisting of 1.5 parts sodium dichromate in 98.5 parts of water, the traverse being sufficient for a one minuteimmersion.

- From the solution A, the tubing i0 is passed between squeegee roliers i2, I2 which remove the surplus surface liquid, and then of rollers I 3, l3, these rollers being provided on their arcuate surfaces with suitable raised areas I4, M of rubber or other suitable material, for

example, as shown in Fig. 2. The areas it, It

are wetted by a roller I5 which dips into a second solution B, comprising a saturated solution of lead acetate in a suitable solvent such, for example, as 20 parts water and parts glycerine, held in a suitable trough i6. Thereafter the tubing is passed into a vat ll containing a solvent C,-e. g. water, wherein the unreacted portions of reactants A and B are washed out of the mate- The endless tubing Ill coming from the solvent 0 is characterized by having an opaque area I8 running in a strip lengthwise of the tubing, the remaining portion of the tubing constituting a longitudinal transparent area i9, as shown in Fig. 3. It is obvious that in treating an endless tubing iii, as shown in Fig. 1, opaque areas may be formed on both sides of .the tubing by providing a second roller l5 and bath IE (not shown) to apply the solution to the opposing roller l3 and thus to the tubing. Thus it is possible to produce a closure having one or more opaque areas or one or more transparent areas. The opaque areas It contain a deep orange precipitate of lead dichromate, which contrasts well with the transparent areas IS. The tubing ll. coming from the solvent C may be severed transversely of its length, along the lines 20-2. into suitable sections 2| 2| such as are employed for closure bands, as shown in Fig. 4. The-band 2i thus produced may he slipped over the bottle closure 22 bearing a. label 23 such as a Government stamp, the band being so positioned on the bottle neck that the label shows through the transparent areas I9 and the unsightly portions ofthe bottle closure are covered by the opaque areas a shrinkable closure between a pair' caps having a transparent-window section. For

example, a bottle cap 24 may be formed by will appear light green in color.

ll. Thus the label .or Government stamp is legible in its entirety and the unattractive closure elements of the bottle are hidden from view by the opaque areas of the closure band.

The process above described is equally applicable for the preparation of shrinkable bottle dipping a mandrel 25 into a suitable gelatine solution and subsequently hardening the gelatine by treatment-with formaldehyde or otherwise. The cap 24 (shown in Fig.6) is dipped, while on the mandrel 25, into a solution A consisting of 9 parts of sodium sulphide and 91 parts of water. The surplus surface liquid is removed by suitable means and the'cap 24 is then. stamped on each side in predetermined areas, for example, by-

means of a. felt pad 26 having the general surface contour of the bottle cap 24 as shown in Fig. 6, the surface of the .pad being wetted-with a saturated solution of silver nitrate in water. Thereafter the cap 24 is washed in water to remove the unused reagent and may be glycerlnated or otherwise softened and then stripped from the mandrel 2B and'trimmed along the line 21 at the lower edge of the opaque areas. The dense deposit of black silver sulphide forms the opposing opaque areas It leaving therebetween the transparent area l9.

The finished cap 24 may be applied to a container closure bearing a label 23 such as a Govemment stamp in a manner as shown in Fig. '7 so that the label is enclosed by the cap but is legible in its entirety through the transparent area i9,

while the opaque areas It on either side of the label obscure the unsightly parts of the bottle closure.

A novel decorative effect may be obtained by coloring the shrinkable closures such, for example, as by dyeing them with suitable dyes to give a transparent color. The dyeing of the closure may take place before and/or after the formation of the opaque, inorganic precipitates in the material. 'An'interesting two-tone color eflect is obtained by dyeing the closure with a dye of color complementary to the color of the opaque insoluble deposit. For example, a precipitate of yellow lead chromate is deposited in the areas to be rendered opaque and the closure then is dyed blue, whereupon the opaque areas Other 'color combinations will occur to one skilled in the art without transcending the scope of the invention.

The invention further contemplates a cap in which the opaque area comprises. a top portion. For example, as shown in Fig. 8, the unsightly cork stopper of a bottle may be covered by acap 28 having an opaque area is" on the top and extending, if desired, down the sides to the edge of the mouth of the bottle. The skirt or remainder of the cap may comprise a transparent area I!" and this will be advantageous where an indlcia-bearing band is positioned around the neck of the bottle as shown in Fig. 8.

The container closures of the invention may be marked by any suitable process with indicia of a decorative or informative character, and such indicia may be applied in transparent or opaque colors or pigments to the opaque areas and/or to the transparent window section of the closure. If desired, the indicia may be applied to the caps or bands simultaneously with the formation of the opaque areas therein. For example, referring to Fig. 1, one or bother the rolls l3 and i3 may carry a raised design positioned on the arcuate surface so as to imprint solution B adjacent the side of the tubing ll within the areas whichwill later comprise the transparent sections II, II. The tubing is then led into the washing solution C and the finished product will have in the transparent sections indicia of the same color as the opaque area.

To apply the indicia. directly to the opaque areas, the tubing may be run first through a solution A: then a solution B is applied by means of a suitable raised plate to give an opaque area. The tubing is then run into a second bath containing solution 1 and a solution B diifering from the first applied solution B is then applied by means -oi a suitable raised design. The product of. this latter process is such as is illustrated in Fig. 4 and comprises a closure having opaque areas II, it of one color forming a background for the .indicia 29 having another and preferably darker color contrasting with the background. For ex ample, the opaque areas it, it may comprise a deposit of light yellow cadmium sulphide and the indicia a deposit of black silver sulphide.

As shown in Fig. 10, the marked closure in any of its physical forms may be subsequently coated.

over on the outside or design side with a suitable transparent composition 30 for the purpose of protecting the design against attempts at mechanical or chemical alteration or to provide a coating which is adhesive, lustrous, waterproof or resistant to atmospheric or other conditions. If desired, the coating may comprise a superimposed layer of the material itself.

It will be observed that by the present invention there is provided a novel shrinkable closure for bottles having a Government tax stamp or other indicia-bearing label over the stopper or cap thereof, the closure having transparent window sections through which the stamp or label is legible in its entirety and opaque sections which serve to enhance the appearance of the bottle.

The present invention further provides that 7 there may be applied to the window sections and/or the opaque sectionsof the novel closure markings which are diflicult to duplicate and resistant to removal by chemical or mechanical means without damaging the base material to such an extent that the attempted removal or alteration may be easily detected. The dimculty of. removal or alteration of the marking serves to. discourage the pirating of valuable trademarks, slogans, etc., and inhibits adulteration of the contents of the container or substitution of inferior products therefor. 1

Since certain changes in carrying out the above process, and certain modifications in the article which embodies the invention may be made without departing from its scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

' It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific featuresof the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 747,804filed October 10, 1934.

Having described my invention, what I claim 2. In a continuous process for preparing shrinkable closures for bottles and the like having an indicia-bearing label applied over the stopper or cap thereof, the steps comprising treating a. preformed, seamless tubing comprising transparent, colloidal material swelling in water with a relatively dilute solution of a first inorganic salt, removing the surface liquid from the tubing, passingsaid treated tubing between rollers having raised areas wetted with a relatively concentrated solution of a second inorganic salt which reacts with said first salt to impregnate the tubing with an opaque, insoluble, inorganic compound in areas running in stripes lengthwise of the tubing leaving transparent areas through which the indicia on said label are legible when the closure is applied to such a bottle.

3. In a process for preparing shrinkable closures for bottles and the like having an indiciabearing label 'applied over the stopper or cap thereof, the steps comprising treating a closure formed of a transparent, qolloidal material swelling in water with a first inorganic salt, applying a second inorganic salt which reacts with said first salt to form an insoluble, inorganic compound in the form of a design or indicia, treating the closure with the first salt and thereafter applying a third inorganic salt to impregnate the closure with an insoluble inorganic compound contrasting with and in the same areas as the 7 design or indicia, leaving a transparent area through which'the indicia on said label are legible when the closure is applied to such a bottle.

4. In a process for preparing shrinkable clos ures for bottles and the like, having an indiciabearing label applied over or adjacent the mouth thereof, the steps comprising treating a closureforming transparent colloidal material swelling in water with a solution of a first inorganic compound, applying simultaneously to opposed sides of said treated material, a solution of a second inorganic compound which reacts with said first compound to form within said material a deposit of an opaque, insoluble, inorganic compound, the reaction being confined on at least one side to predetermined areas to leave a transparent area through which indicia on said label are legible when the closure is applied to such a label-bearing bottle or the like.

5. In a continuous process for preparing shrinkable closures for bottles and the like, having an indicia-bearing label applied over or adjacent the mouth thereof, the steps comprising continuously passing a flattened preformed seamless tubing of transparent colloidal material swelling in water through a solution of a first inorganic salt and continuously applying to both sides of said flattened tubing a solution of a second inorganic salt, the second salt being applied to a portion only of one side of said tubing, the salts reacting to form within said material a deposit of an opaque, insoluble, inorganic compound in predetermined areas so as to leave a transparent area through which the indicia on said label are legible when a closure formed from said tubing is applied to such a label-bearing bottle or the like.

6. In a continuous process for preparing shrinkable closures for bottles and the like having an indicia-bearing label applied over or adjacent the mouth thereof, the steps comprising continuously treating a preformed seamless tubing of transparent colloidal material swelling in water with a solution of a first inorganic salt and continuously applying to said treated tubing a solution of a second inorganic salt which reacts with said first salt to form within said material a deposit of an opaque, insoluble, inorganic compound, the application of the second salt being confined to'predetermined longitudinal areas of said tubing so as to leave at least one longitudinal transparent area, and severing the treated tubing transversely to form a closure band, the indicia on said label being legible through said transparent area when the closure band is applied to such a label-bearing bottle or the like.

7. In a process for preparing closures for bottles and the like having an indicia-bearing labelapplied over or adjacent the mouth thereof, the steps comprising disposing on a mandrel a cap formed of a transparent colloidal material swelling in water, applying to said cap so disposed a solution of a first inorganic salt and applying topredetermined portions of opposed sides of said treated cap a solution of a second inorganic salt which reacts with said first salt to form within said material a deposit of an opaque, insoluble. inorganic compound in predetermined areas.- leaving a transparent area through which the indicia on said label are legible when the treated cap is applied to such a label-bearing bottle or the like.

8. In a process for preparing closures for botties and the like having an indicia-bearing label applied over or adjacent the mouth thereof, the steps comprising treating a closure formed of a transparent colloidal material swelling in water with a solution of a first inorganic salt, removing the surface liquid from said treated closure and thereafter applying to said closure a solution of a second inorganic salt which reacts with said first salt to form within the material a deposit of an opaque, insoluble, inorganic compound in predetermined areas, leaving a transparent area through which the indicia on said label are legible when the treated cap is applied to such a label-bearing bottle or the like.

WILLARD L. MORGAN. 

